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CT, PET, MRI—the alphabet soup of medical imaging can be confusing. Here are the most common procedures, what they’re used for, and what you can expect of each.
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When physicians need to peer inside the body, they have a variety of radiological techniques at their disposal. Some of these diagnostic tools employ widely different technologies: X-ray, ultra-high-frequency sound, radioactive substances or a radio-wave effect of atomic nuclei called nuclear magnetic resonance.
Some technologies allow physicians to see not only how an organ looks but how it is working, sparing patients the pain and trauma of exploratory surgery.
Which test your doctor orders will depend on the organ or body part of interest and the problem being investigated. Here are a few of the more common imaging techniques, why they’re used and what you can expect if you have to undergo an exam by one.
X-Ray
Despite development of more sophisticated technologies, the X-ray remains the workhorse of diagnostic imaging. “X-ray is the quick, simple, cheap and effective tool that’s tried and true,” says Dr. Anush Parikh, of Mid-Delaware Imaging in Dover.
X-rays are waves that have a relatively high frequency along the electromagnetic spectrum. They are absorbed in varying amounts by different parts of the body. In general, bones appear white, soft tissue appears gray, and air appears black.
The basic type of X-ray imaging is plain radiography. This involves an X-ray machine aimed at the body with a recording plate placed behind the area of interest. Once the machine delivers its radiation, an image is captured on the plate. It is a useful tool for detecting pneumonia and broken bones.
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